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8 - Tuesday, February 2, 2010
The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com
Rodriguez feels
'pretty good' as
signing day looms
Hogan recaptures his childhood
with father at backyard rink
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tion most of them played in high
school.
NICOLE AUERBACH "There are going to be guys
Daily Sports Editor who are going to play multiple
positions in the spring," Rodri-
two bowl-less seasons at guez said. "We're going to do a
an, recruiting has become little more experimenting with
point for Wolverine fans our guys than we have in the
for a turnaround. past."
t this point with tomor- On the defensive end, where
National Signing Day perhaps most concerns lie, Rodri-
, it's guez said he would consider try-
too' late NOTEBOOK ing offensive players on the other
ch Rich side of the line.
sez to worry about doing He mentioned possibly moving
6-foot-2 freshman Cameron Gor-
re's always a couple that don, a receiver, to defense.
waiting on, a couple you're "What we're looking at now
about, but we're off are guys that can help on defense
d now," Rodriguez told because of our shortage of num-
rs during halftime of Sat- bers over there," Rodriguez said.
Michigan men's basket- RICHROD ON KELVIN: Michi-
ne. "We feel pretty good gan basketball coach John
ae way it's going." Beilein welcomed former point
iguez said he expects to guard and current slot receiver.
ween 26 and 28 recruits Kelvin Grady back to the basket-
2010 class. ball program two weeks ago as a
igan has received 26 oral scout team player. The decision
:ments so far in the pro- complicates the practice hour
neteen of those commit- limits for an NCAA-eligible stu-
re not binding until the dent-athlete. But Rodriguez and
sign a National Letter of Beilein supported Grady's deci-
omorrow. sion to help out both teams.
other seven committed "When we talked, I could tell
opted to enroll early and he really wanted to, and he prob-
ady taking classes at the ably missed it," Rodriguez said.
ity. "As I told him, 'If you can feel
rrow is likely to be less you can contribute and have fun
than last year's Signing doing it then why not?' (Beilein)
en Michigan secured com- and I talked about it, and I'm all
ts from three players and for those guys as long as they can
other recruits decommit contribute and as long as they
of different schools. don't affect their studies, and it
iguez will be awaiting doesn't seem to be affecting his
isions of three different studies at all."
who could immediately Rodriguez said if the basket-
team's shaky secondary. ball team makes the NCAA Tour-
ar safeties Demar Dorsey nament, he'll tell Grady, "That's
an Parker and four-star great, keep doing it," even if it
ack Rashad Knight will conflicts with early spring foot-
e their decisions tomor- ball practices.
d all list Michigan among ASSISTANT LB COACH
vorites. UPDATE: The Michigan foot-
ArulesprohibitRodriguez ball coaching staff is still one
ommenting on unsigned defensive assistant coach short.
but he spoke to reporters Last year's linebackers coach,
s ability to close. Jay Hopson, left Ann Arbor to
relationships have become the defensive coordina-
been established," he tor at Memphis in December.
'he success in closing is On Saturday, Rodriguez said
that relationship for a that he expects a new hire to
think we're meeting our come within a week after tomor-
don't think you ever get row's signing day.
ing you want, but you get "I did a little work with it
u need, and I think we're when I was at the coaches' con-
that." vention in Orlando (earlier this
r personnel changes from month)," Rodriguez said. "I did
he team could help meet some interviews down there.
Michigan's needs. Other than that I put it on hold
guez said some slot until after signing date."
With Camp Randall
Classic approaching,
Hogan relishes
outdoor practice
By MARK BURNS
Daily Sports Editor
Picture this.
Set back on a canal off of Duck
Lake in the middle of Highland,
Mich is a 210 feet-by-115 feet ice
sheet - one larger than an Olym-
pic-sized rink.
A 400-foot wire is strung
lengthwise across the rink, sup-
porting 25 150-watt light fixtures.
It's nine o'clock in the evening and
the frozen pond is considerably
torn up from a day's worth of skat-
ing. This isn't just your average
backyard rink - this is an oasis.
And junior goaltender Bryan
Hogan - when time permits dur-
ing the Michigan hockey team's
hectic year-long schedule - can
be found rifling pucks across this
secluded rink.
Last Sunday night, Hogan, along
with fellow juniors Chad Langlais
and Tristin Llewellyn and Hogan's
father, Jim, played apick-upgame in
the wake of the Wolverines' upcom-
ing outdoor contest against Wiscon-
sin in the Camp Randall Classic.
"I think the only reason why
Chad wanted to come out there
was because we have the game
this weekend," Hogan said with a
slight laugh. "Usually, he doesn't
want to, but I dragged him out
there. It's quite an experience."
His father named it "The Duck
Lake Forum," and when Hogan
makes it there, he can be seen
sporting a blue Rimouski Oceanic
(Sidney Crosby's former Quebec
Major Hockey League team) jersey.
Surprisingly, Hogan rarely ever
wears goalie attire when out on
the pond. His father said he never
expected Hogan to end up between
the pipes, considering he's only
seen his son strap on the pads once
at The Forum since he was 10 or 11.
"It's too cold out there to play
goalie," Hogan said. "No one wants
to play goalie. But (this weekend)
I'm going to have to."
Jim is quick to highlight that
it might have been former NHL
goaltender Ed Belfour - who
Bryan met at a very young age -
who inspired him to throw on a
goalie mask.
Growing up, he consistently
wore No. 20 on his jersey and
exhibited the same sort of art on
his helmet as Belfour.
And while Hogan almost always
plays forward on Duck Lake, this
Saturday against the Badgers, he'll
be Michigan's last line of defense.
He'll have to adjust to the rink,
potential shadows, bright lights and
the overall game-day atmosphere.
"When a player advances ... so
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COURTESY OF LINDA HOGAN
luniorgoaltender Bryan Hogan with junior defenseman Tristin Llewellyn (top) play on Hogan's outdoor rink, nicknamed "The
Duck Lake Forum,' in Highland, Mich. The two travel to Madison this weekend to play in the Camp Randall Classic against No. 2
Wisconsin. Hogan (bottom) skates on the same rink, where he prefers to not play goalie,
often they are thrust into an envi-
ronment, for lack of a better word,
artificial environment," Jim said.
"It's on a big stage with bright
lights and it's very structured. And
then you can find a way to escape
that after it's all been placed before
you and you can retreat back to
where it all started, that's special."
The Forum provides that escape
from reality to a place where it all
began. It's a place where a 21-year-
old Division I college hockey
player can recapture his youth,
according to Jim.
It's where teammates and
friends can have a few laughs and
forget about the difficult season
they've had to endure. It's where
a father and son can toss the puck "We started out (last weekend)
around and rekindle the bond with a little two-on-two ... and
they've shared over the years on (Bryan, Chad and Tristin) humored
the ice. But most important, it's me for a little bit and let me be a
part of it," Mr. Hogan said. "I'll
tell you what, when Bryan started
school there, I dreamed of the day
"I dreamed of when he'd bring a few guys up to
play. Those guys don't know it, and
the da when no one else really knows this, but
for me, it was the thrill of alifetime.
he'd bring a few "Someday as a dad, you're going
to look back on your kids and
guys up to play" you're going to share experiences
in their lives - there are going to
be some special moments. It seems
like such a simple thing, but it was
where a son can make a father's something way beyond that. And
day...and not even know it. I'll never forget that."
Boardfor Student
Publications
seeks New Members
The University of Michigan Board for Student Publications
is recruiting two members for three-year terms beginning in April.
The Board is responsible for three publications:
The Michigan Daily, the Michiganensian Yearbook, and the Gargoyle.
Because the Board is committed to realizing diversity's benefits
for itself and for the publications it oversees, the Board
is particularly interested in recruiting members of the
University Community (faculty, staff and students) or the general public
who are members of underrepresented groups and who have
experience and expertise in journalism, law, finance, or development.
Interested persons are encouraged to apply.
For more information and application forms, please visit
our website: www.pub.umich.edu
or contact Mark Bealafeld, Student Publications General Manager
at (734) 936-7883 or mbealafe@umich.edu
The deadline for receipt of applications is
February 12, 2010.
Blue looks for redemption tonight
ByJOE STAPLETON
Daily Sports Editor
When the Michigan men's bas-
ketball team played Northwest-
ern in Crisler Arena on Jan. 10,
the Wolverines gave up a 37-28
halftime lead and allowed the
Wildcats to
get back into a
game Michigan Michigan at
looked posi- Northwestern
tioned to run
away with. Matchup:
The game N.W. 14-7
raised a lot of Michigan 11-10
questions, but When: Tonight
the most preva- 7 p.m. Eastern
lent one was:
How did Michi- Where:Welsh-
gan give up a Ryan Arena
17-point lead? TV/Radio: Big
The key to Ten Network
making sure
nothing like
that happens tonight in Evanston,
accordingto Michigan coach John
Beilein, is simple: defense.
"They got several unguarded
threes when we would say, 'you
got him,' and the other guy would
say, 'you got him,' " Beilein said.
"And nobody took him."
Of course, the reason the
defense suffered is the same rea-
son it has suffered all year. When
the Wolverines (4-5 Big Ten, 11-10
overall) start missing their shots,
they become preoccupied and it
causes them to play distracted
defense.
In the first half of the North-
western game, Michigan shot 50
percent from the field and held the
Wildcats to 34 percent shooting.
In the second half, the two
teamsnearly switched places -
the Wolverines shot 34 percent
and Northwestern (3-6, 14-7) shot
56 percent.
But it wasn't just missed shots
that distracted Michigan on
defense.
Turnovers played a major role
as well. The Wolverines commit-
ted 11 of their 18 turnovers in the
second half.
"We were scoring and we were
feeling good," Beilein said. "Then
all of a sudden, we started turning
it over and we had trouble going
from offense to defense."
Beilein was quick to point out
that the game was not just about
Michigan shooting itself in the
foot.
Northwestern, he said, throws
off a lot of teams the way they
play.
"If you ask Big Ten coaches,
many of them would agree with
me that this is the most difficult
prep of the year," Bilein said.
"Because they play so differently
and right now they're playing as
well as any Northwestern team
we've faced."
The good news for the Wol-
verines is that their defense has
been much improved since that
game. Though they have gone 3-3
in their six games since then, they
have only allowed one opponent,
Connecticut, to score over 60
points.
The main reason for the turn-
around, according to senior
DeShawn Sims, is confidence.
"The defense is there," he said.
"We just needed to implement
some swagger, some confidence.
We just needed to pick up our
swagger in general."
Part of maintaining that swag-
ger is taking the attitude of get-
ting back at Northwestern for
taking what the Wolverines con-
sider was rightfully theirs: a vic-
tory back on Jan. 10
"We definitely owe them one,"
Sims said. "Definitely seeking
redemption."
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